§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to indicate, for each year from 1985 to date, how many operations have been conducted in each year concerning(a) material of a homosexual nature, (b) material of a heterosexual nature and (c) all materials.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information available does not distinguish between operations concerning material of a homosexual and heterosexual nature. The total number of operations conducted by the Metropolitan police obscene publications branch in each year covering all materials was:
Number 1985 52 1986 46 1987 90 1988 101 1989 166 1990 142
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the overall cost of operations of the obscene publications squad in each year from 1985 to date and as to the number of officers assigned to the squad on a yearly average, for each of those years.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is as follows. The costs given relate to manpower and employment only.
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Cost April-March (£) Staff Police and civilians 1985–86 406,982 22 1986–87 440,522 22 1987–88 460,472 22
Cost April-March (£) Staff Police and Civilians 1988–89 513,063 22 1989–90 804,699 30 1990–911 643,636 30 1 April to 31 December 1990.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to indicate which officer, and at what rank, is in overall command of the work of the obscene publications squad; and what policy exists as to the priority areas of operations of the squad.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the overall command of the obscene publications branch is undertaken by a detective chief superintendent. The priorities of the squad reflect force policy concerning the exploitation of vulnerable persons, especially children. In order of importance the priorities are:
- (a) child pornography
- (b) bizarre material
- (c) extreme bondage and flagellation
- (d) British publication of obscene material.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to indicate, for each year from 1985 to date(a) the number of charges brought as a result of operations by the obscene publications squad, (b) the number of prosecutions conducted and (c) the number of convictions obtained.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is as follows:
(a) Number of charges brought as a result of operations by the obscene publications branch Number 1985 54 1986 108 1987 74 1988 65 1989 75 1990 112
(b) Number of prosecutions conducted and the number of convictions obtained Prosecutions Convictions 1985 14 14 1986 15 20 1987 15 11 1988 17 15 1989 29 13 1990 27 26
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to list for each year from 1985 to date, the subject of each of the major operations conducted by the obscene publications squad, the duration of the operation, and the number of officers involved.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the subject of each of the 165W major operations conducted by the obscene publications branch was the seizure of either suspected obscene material or suspected indecent material relating to children. No records are kept of the duration of each operation or the number of officers involved.